CSAT Report 2024: external influences and manipulation in the annulment of elections

According to a CSAT report, a candidate in the presidential elections had a significantly higher exposure on TikTok, due to the preferential treatment given by the platform, which did not mark the electoral content according to the legislation. This led to increased visibility for that candidate, while others were filtered, diminishing their chances. TikTok did not comply with the decisions of the Central Electoral Bureau, which affected the electoral process.

The report also highlights that social networks were used by Russia to spread disinformation messages, aiming to create social tensions and influence the perception of Romanians regarding the political reality.

CSAT has requested the authorities to conduct urgent checks to assess the impact of these issues on the elections. The year 2024, with elections in many countries, has amplified the risks of manipulation and disinformation.